Psychologist Warns Couples: ‘Bed Rotting’ Trend Could Harm Your Relationship

For many, “bed rotting” is a nightly (and, let’s be honest, daytime) ritual. 

The TikTok term describes lying in bed, not to sleep, but to do passive activities, such as scrolling on your phone for hours (aka doom scrolling) or watching TV. 

No surprise here: Wasting the day in bed isn’t good for health or productivity. It’s not good for your love life, either. Psychologists are now warning that the bed rotting trend could harm your relationship. 

Here are the shocking details that may wake you up. 

First, let’s look at some of the benefits of bed rotting. 

Bed rotting does some good for the mind and body. Scrolling social media or catching up with friends can help you unwind if you work a mentally or physically demanding job. 

You may laugh at funny animal videos, learn new hacks to make life easier, or watch the show you’ve been dying to see. 

Psychological Courtney DeAngelis, PsyD, told Health that bed rotting is the opposite of being productive.

It sounds counteractive, but when you’re so burnt out, it’s beneficial to rest and recharge passively. 

But here’s where bed rotting hinders your life — especially relationships.

Dr. Lalitaa Suglani, a holistic healer and author, told Fruityslots.com that bed rotting can negatively impact intimacy. 

“It can reduce levels of intimacy with your partner and without trying new things together – the couple could begin to feel ‘stuck’ and ‘bored’ in their relationship,” she said. 

“For couples, ‘bed rotting‘ together can initially feel like quality downtime, offering a chance to bond in a relaxed setting.”

When couples turn bed rotting into a habit, it becomes a hindrance, which could lead to complacency. 

This is the opposite of variety — a key part of a relationship’s success. 

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“It can eventually reduce the excitement and intimacy in a relationship,” she explained. 

“Shared adventures, trying new things, and socializing with others bring fresh energy to relationships,” she added. “Without these, couples may feel stuck or bored, which can affect long-term connection and fulfillment.”

The solution?

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Dr. Suglani recommends that couples set healthy boundaries for bed rotting. While it still has its place in the bedroom, there need to be limits. This could involve setting specific times for bed rotting. 

Other helpful ideas include setting small goals and creating a healthy routine around rest and activity.

She said this should help couples stuck in a bed-rotting phase realize that the day should be enjoyed — not spent in bed.